A few weeks ago, I advocated for a “parent-test” for individuals and couples before they are allowed to have children. Par-ameters of my parent test included time available to spend with a child, income, community support, living conditions and so forth. Furthermore, I advocated that teenage girls not be allowed to have children, one method of prevention being Norplant. Some responded to this idea with accusations of sterilization, class warfare and discrimination toward women.
As much as I would like to address the father’s responsibility, this newspaper does not have the space for me to tackle the topic. More often than not, in unmarried, unplanned pregnancies, the mom is left holding the bag. I was asked, “If Sulemon’s case is unique, why propose such a preposterous test for the rest of our population?”
Before the train leaves the station, let it be known that I am not advocating abortion, sterilization, war of the poor or discrimination against women, especially single mothers. Everyone knows a single mother or the child of a single mother who is successful. Yet, it seems that this is the exception, not the rule.
Sulemon is unique in that she had eight children at once, but one of the many single mothers who populate this country. The number of single teenage mothers is growing. The CDC reports that the last numbers show an increase of 3 percent in the teenage birthrate, with approximately 750,000 teen births per year. The United States leads all industrialized countries in teenage births with Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia and Texas leading the way. Forty-six percent of single mothers receive public assistance, costing approximately $5 to $7 billion in state and federal money on services related to teen parents each year. This does not include the cost of factors other than direct payments. Education, food subsidies, incarceration and other programs are not included, nor are the costs in time and money contributed by charitable organizations.
Of the approximately 750,000 teen pregnancies each year, more than 25 percent end in abortion. Statistically, teenage pregnancy tends to result in decreased health for newborns; decreased cognitive ability especially verbal, development of young children; lowered educational achievement; lowered job attainment as young adults; increased behavioral problems and increased anti-social development.
This is a negative feedback loop; the daughters of teen mothers are likely to become pregnant, as teens with an estimated 75 percent of pregnant teens had mothers who were also pregnant as adolescents.
How do we fix this epidemic? Abstinence education is merely a good intention paving the road to the maternity ward. A 2004 study showed that 88 percent of teens taking the abstinence pledge had pre-marital sex. Is it the answer? No. But it is a part of the answer.
Infants and children receive vaccinations every year to prevent disease and increase the chance of having a healthy, productive life. Our teenage women deserve the same opportunity.
People make choices, often without the thought of consequences. This is even more with teenagers. I am arguing to give them a second chance without the burden and responsibility of raising children as young teen moms.
Just because mother-nature has decided that we can reproduce at 13 doesn’t mean we should.
Lew Griffith is a graduate student at Saint Louis University.
